The floor of a golf simulator has three jobs: give the golfer a level stance, stop the ball bouncing around after it drops off the screen, and take a putt. It is built in up to three layers: what is under it all, the turf on top, and the hitting mat set into it. This guide covers each layer with the makers' own figures, from Shop Indoor Golf's SIGPRO flooring and landing pads to Carl's Place's floor tiles and turf, how to set the hitting mat level with the turf inch by inch, what launch monitor makers ask of the floor, and how to deal with concrete, a basement and a garage. Jay Lasco, host of Golf Simulator Videos, has hit off SIGPRO, Carl's Place and Fiberbuilt mats on camera in GSV's builds.
- 2 3/8 inSIGPRO golf simulator flooring, hitting strip built in
- 12 ftOf turf from the screen in Carl's Place's DIY turf
- 9 to 10On the stimpmeter: SIGPRO flooring's putting speed
- 1 1/2 inThe least mat depth Uneekor asks for its Trouble Mats
Lay out turf and flooring in the GSV Sim Builder
Golf simulator flooring, turf and mats
- SIGPRO Golf Simulator Flooring$250 off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV250.SIG8, SIG10 and SIG12 enclosures and studios, DIY and commercial enclosures, G-TRAK screens, SIGPRO flooring and complete simulator packages.
- SIG10 landing pad5% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF.First-time buyers only, one use. Not valid on a standalone Trackman, the Square Golf launch monitor or the ProTee VX.
- SIG12 landing pad5% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF, first-time buyers.
- SIG custom golf simulator turf5% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF, first-time buyers.
- Golf hitting mats$20 off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSVMAT.SIGPRO Softy, Super Softy, Softy Lite and Commercial Teeline mats.
- Carl's Place floor tiles, turf and HotShot mats5% off at Carl's Place. GSV emails you the code.
Buying through GSV's links and codes helps support the channel: GSV earns a small commission at no extra cost to you, and you still get every saving available.
The short answer
- For a SIG enclosure, the simplest floor is made for it. SIGPRO golf simulator flooring is 2 3/8 in high, with its own hitting strip and four cups, sized for the SIG8, SIG10 and SIG12. A landing pad is the lighter option: turf that fills the space from the screen to the mat.
- For any other room, turf over a base. Turf cut to the room, over foam tiles or a wood subfloor, with the hitting mat set into it. Carl's Place sells interlocking foam tiles 1 1/4 in thick and turf cut to its DIY enclosures.
- Set the mat level with the turf. Carl's Place calls recessing the hitting area so it sits flush with the turf around it "one of the biggest upgrades you can make". The table below gives the base each common mat needs.
- Keep it flat, matte and dark around the ball for a camera launch monitor. Foresight asks for flat, matte turf with nothing glossy near the hitting area, and ProTee says dark hitting surfaces track best.
Golf simulator flooring options
| Option | What it is | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| SIGPRO golf simulator flooring | 2 in interlocking panels under putting turf, 2 3/8 in high, with a hitting strip let in and four cups | A SIG8, SIG10 or SIG12 enclosure, putting and full swing on one floor |
| SIG landing pad | 1/2 in nylon turf cut to fill the space from the screen to the hitting mat | A SIG10 or SIG12 on a floor that is already flat and hard |
| Turf over foam tiles | Turf cut to the room over interlocking foam tiles, the mat set into it | Any enclosure or built-in screen; a cushioned, level floor wall to wall |
| Turf over a wood subfloor | Turf over plywood on framing, with a vapor barrier under it on concrete | A dedicated room, a basement, a mat recessed into a platform |
| A turf mat that rolls up | The SIGPRO Turf Golf Mat: 6 x 10 ft, 3/4 in, nylon on a foam backing | A net or a garage, where the floor has to clear away |
SIGPRO golf simulator flooring
Shop Indoor Golf's own floor for its enclosures is made of 2 in interlocking panels under putting turf, 2 3/8 in high in all. It does the hitting mat's job too: a hitting strip is let into the floor for full shots, and Shop Indoor Golf says it is easily swapped. The putting turf rolls between 9 and 10 on the stimpmeter, with four cups and just under 2 1/2 in of drop into each, and an undulations kit is an add-on for breaking putts. It comes as a kit to put together.
| For the | Size | Height |
|---|---|---|
| SIG8 | 9 ft 8 in x 15 ft 6 in | 2 3/8 in |
| SIG10 | 11 ft 7 in x 15 ft 6 in | 2 3/8 in |
| SIG12 | 13 ft 6 in x 15 ft 6 in | 2 3/8 in |
Sizes are wide by deep, from Shop Indoor Golf's flooring page and its mat specifications page. It is made to pair with the SIG8, SIG10 and SIG12 enclosures. GSV250 takes $250 off it.
SIG landing pads
A landing pad is turf made to fill the space between the screen and the hitting mat inside a SIG enclosure. Shop Indoor Golf says it protects hard floors and stops balls bouncing around the room, and calls it a putting turf that can double as a putting surface.
- SIG10 landing pad: 10 ft 6 in wide and 8 ft long, 1/2 in nylon turf, in two halves rolled together.
- SIG12 landing pad: 12 ft wide and 9 ft long, 1/2 in nylon turf.
Shop Indoor Golf also cuts turf to size, from 2 ft to 40 ft long and up to 15 ft wide, in its MoneyPutt green or Bermuda Black, and sells MoneyPutt by the roll, 15 ft wide with a 1/2 in pile, to cut into a putting green of your own. A cut-to-size order is measured to the outside edges and cannot be returned if it is measured wrong, so measure twice.
SIGPRO flooring, landing pads and turf
- SIGPRO Golf Simulator Flooring$250 off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV250.SIG8, SIG10 and SIG12 enclosures and studios, DIY and commercial enclosures, G-TRAK screens, SIGPRO flooring and complete simulator packages.
- SIG10 landing pad5% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF.First-time buyers only, one use. Not valid on a standalone Trackman, the Square Golf launch monitor or the ProTee VX.
- SIG12 landing pad5% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF, first-time buyers.
- SIG custom golf simulator turf5% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF, first-time buyers.
- SIGPRO Turf Golf Mat, 6 x 10 ft5% off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV5OFF, first-time buyers.
Carl's Place floor tiles and turf
Carl's Place builds its floors from interlocking foam tiles with turf on top:
- Floor tiles: 1 1/4 in thick, 40 1/4 in square without their edges, with tall tapered edge pieces that hold the turf in place and corner pieces to finish the floor. Carl's Place says the interlocking pieces stay put and are easy to install, and allows for up to 1/8 in of variance in a tile.
- Turf over the tiles: Carl's Place recommends 6 in of overlap on every side, to cut to fit, and setting the hitting mat or strip into the floor.
- Turf for its DIY enclosures: cut and hemmed to fit inside each DIY enclosure kit and run 12 ft out from the screen, from 8 ft 1 3/4 in wide for the narrowest kit to 13 ft 5 in for the widest. It comes with precut holes, foam break pads to put under it for breaking putts, and an 18 x 36 in return strip.
- The HotShot mat: 1 3/4 in thick, in 4 x 5, 5 x 8, 4 x 9 and 6 x 10 ft, with an optional base of EPDM rubber. Its inserts, 30 x 12 in, also drop into other mats or floors about 1 3/4 in tall: cut out a section and drop the insert in.
GSV's Carl's Place code is sent by email from the Carl's Place discount code page.
Setting the hitting mat level with the turf
A hitting mat on top of the turf leaves the golfer standing on the mat with the ball and the landing area lower, and a step at its edge. Set into the floor, the mat, the turf and a floor launch monitor all sit at one height. Carl's Place calls "recessing the hitting area so it sits flush with the surrounding turf" "one of the biggest upgrades you can make".
There are two ways to do it: cut a recess for the mat into a platform or a subfloor, or build the floor around the mat up to its height with tiles or plywood. Either way the sum is the same: the base under the turf plus the turf equals the mat. With 1/2 in turf, the thickness of SIG's landing pads and the pile of MoneyPutt:
| Hitting mat | Maker's height | Base under 1/2 in turf |
|---|---|---|
| SIGPRO Softy | 2 1/2 in (one Shop Indoor Golf page gives 2 5/8 in) | 2 in |
| SIGPRO Super Softy, SIGPRO Commercial Teeline | 2 3/8 in | 1 7/8 in |
| Fiberbuilt studio and Tee Box mats | 2 in | 1 1/2 in |
| Carl's Place HotShot | 1 3/4 in | 1 1/4 in: one layer of Carl's floor tiles |
| SIGPRO Fairway Series, SIGPRO 3D | 1 5/8 in | 1 1/8 in |
| SIGPRO Softy Lite | 1 1/4 in | 3/4 in |
Heights are from Shop Indoor Golf's mat specifications, Fiberbuilt's and Carl's Place's product pages; the last column is GSV's arithmetic, not a maker's figure. Turf piles differ, so measure the turf you buy, and allow for the tolerance the makers give: 1/8 in either way on SIGPRO mats and up to 1/8 in on Carl's tiles. Measure the mat you have, too, before cutting anything.
The GSV Sim Builder does this sum for you: set the mat in level and it raises the turf on gym tiles or subfloor to the top of the mat, and lays the turf out to the mat, the enclosure or wall to wall. GSV's partners also supply turf cut to the room, priced by quote through the free consultation below.
What launch monitor makers ask of the floor
- Flat and firm. Foresight, for its overhead units: "Confirm the hitting surface is flat and stable; soft or uneven turf can cause misreads." Uneekor asks for the EYE XO2 to be installed in a level and stable place.
- Matte, not shiny. Foresight asks for flat, matte turf or non-glossy mats, and lists reflective turf fibers, polished concrete and glossy flooring among the things that can make its units miss shots.
- Dark around the ball. ProTee says white or very light hitting mats, including some bunker-style mats, can interfere with the ProTee VX, because its cameras rely on contrast and dark surfaces track best.
- A unit beside the ball sits at the ball's height. Foresight says a ground unit sitting too low is especially common with thicker or raised mats, and that raising it about 1 to 1 1/2 in can help. A mat set level with the floor avoids the problem.
- A mat deep enough for inserts. Uneekor's Trouble Mats go into an insert cut in the hitting mat or the turf, and Uneekor asks for a mat at least 1 1/2 in deep.
- A raised floor lowers the ceiling. Overhead units are mounted a set height above the hitting surface: Foresight puts the Falcon and GCHawk at 9 1/2 to 10 1/2 ft above it. A 2 3/8 in floor takes 2 3/8 in off the room. The low ceiling guide has the height each unit needs.
Concrete, basements, garages and carpet
- Concrete. Carl's Place: "Concrete is hard, loud, and causes unpredictable bounce after the ball drops from the impact screen." Turf straight onto concrete works, it says, since the golfer still hits off a cushioned mat, though it is not its favorite setup for the long term, and turf with padding under it softens the sound of the ball dropping and rolling around the bay.
- A basement. For a wood subfloor, Carl's Place describes 2 x 4 framing with 3/4 in plywood on top, and a vapor barrier under it to protect the lumber and the turf. A subfloor is also the easiest way to recess the mat.
- A garage. A floor that has to clear for the car is one that rolls up or comes apart: the SIGPRO Turf Golf Mat rolls up and stores like a carpet, and interlocking tiles come apart. The garage golf simulator page has nine real builds.
- Carpet. Carl's Place warns that thick or plush carpet makes soft spots that affect the roll of a putt and the hitting mat's stability. Fiberbuilt notes that a mat on carpet may move slightly with the grain while hitting, and suggests light-duty two-way carpet tape under the frame.
Laying turf and keeping the mat still
- Let the turf settle. Carl's Place says to let turf acclimate to the room's temperature so it lies flatter, and that a sharp utility knife makes a big difference to the finish.
- Flat seams. Keep seams flat and edges secured, with carpet tape or a suitable adhesive so nothing shifts over time.
- A mat that stays put. Shop Indoor Golf says to install a mat on a level surface, and that double-sided carpet tape or Velcro strips help if it moves; its Super Softy and Commercial Teeline have heavy rubber bases that stay put once laid down.
- Putting. Carl's Place says putting turf is usually lower than general turf, for a smoother roll, and that padding or small changes under the turf can add a light slope for breaking putts.
Care and how long it lasts
- Clean it. Carl's Place: vacuum now and then, brush high pile turf to keep the fibers upright, and keep putting turf clean for a consistent roll. It says quality turf can last several years in a home simulator used a few times a week.
- Warranties. Shop Indoor Golf gives its own mats and hitting strips one year, not counting normal wear such as fraying, fading or surface wear. Fiberbuilt gives its stance and turf mats a limited one year and its rubber bases five.
- Swap the strip, not the mat. The hitting strip takes the wear. SIGPRO flooring's strip is swappable, and Carl's HotShot and SIGPRO mats take replacement strips and inserts.
Swing indoors with caution. A raised floor brings the golfer closer to the ceiling, the projector and anything hanging from it. Always test your setup before you make a full swing: start with slow practice swings with your longest club, and check the ceiling, the walls, the lights and anyone standing nearby. Golf Simulator Videos and its affiliates take no responsibility for your safety, or for any injury or damage, when you swing indoors.
Floors and mats on video
A full enclosure build, with a Carl's Place HotShot mat:
The Fiberbuilt Tee Box mat, which takes a real tee anywhere on its turf (the written review):
Discount codes
GSV250 takes $250 off SIGPRO golf simulator flooring at Shop Indoor Golf, and off the SIG8, SIG10 and SIG12 enclosures and complete packages. GSVMAT takes $20 off the SIGPRO Softy range and the Commercial Teeline, and GSV5OFF takes 5% off a first order, including the landing pads and turf. The Carl's Place code is sent by email from the Carl's Place discount code page. Every code is on the golf simulator discount codes page.
Hitting mats and enclosures
- Golf hitting mats$20 off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSVMAT.SIGPRO Softy, Super Softy, Softy Lite and Commercial Teeline mats.
- Carl's Place floor tiles, turf and HotShot mats5% off at Carl's Place. GSV emails you the code.
- Golf simulator enclosures and screens$250 off at Shop Indoor Golf with code GSV250.SIG8, SIG10 and SIG12 enclosures and studios, DIY and commercial enclosures, G-TRAK screens, SIGPRO flooring and complete simulator packages.
Free consultation with GSV's partner builders
Not sure what to put on your floor? Jay works with official partners: master builders he hand-picked, who get on a call quickly and make sure you have the right fit before you buy anything. They offer package deals on the whole build, turf cut to the room, DIY packages to put together yourself, full installation, and more. The consultation is free.
Golf simulator flooring questions
What is the best flooring for a golf simulator?
Turf over a firm, level base, with the hitting mat set in level with it. For a SIG8, SIG10 or SIG12 enclosure, SIGPRO golf simulator flooring is made for it: 2 in panels under putting turf, 2 3/8 in high, with its own hitting strip and four cups. For any other room, turf over interlocking foam tiles or a wood subfloor works.
Can you put golf simulator turf on concrete?
Yes. Carl's Place says a simulator straight on concrete works since the golfer still hits off a cushioned mat, though it is not its favorite setup for the long term. It also says bare concrete is hard and loud and makes the ball bounce unpredictably after it drops from the screen, so padding or foam tiles under the turf help.
How thick is golf simulator flooring?
SIGPRO golf simulator flooring is 2 3/8 in high. Carl's Place floor tiles are 1 1/4 in thick before the turf. SIG's landing pads are 1/2 in nylon turf. Carl's Place says foam tiles commonly run from about 1/2 in to 1 in thick, and general simulator turf from about 1/2 in to over 1 in of pile.
How do you make a hitting mat level with the turf?
Build the floor around the mat up to its height, or recess the mat into a platform or subfloor. The base under the turf plus the turf should equal the mat: a 2 1/2 in SIGPRO Softy takes a 2 in base under 1/2 in turf, and a 1 3/4 in Carl's Place HotShot takes one layer of Carl's 1 1/4 in floor tiles under 1/2 in turf. Measure your own mat and turf first.
How much turf does a golf simulator need?
Enough to run from the screen past the hitting mat. Carl's Place cuts its DIY enclosure turf to run 12 ft from the screen, and SIG's landing pads run 8 ft for the SIG10 and 9 ft for the SIG12, from the screen to the mat. Carl's Place recommends 6 in of overlap on every side when laying turf over its floor tiles, to cut to fit.
Does the floor affect a launch monitor?
It can. Foresight asks for a flat, stable, matte hitting surface and lists reflective turf, polished concrete and glossy flooring among the causes of missed shots. ProTee says white or very light mats can interfere with the ProTee VX. A ground unit should sit at the ball's height, and an overhead unit is mounted a set height above the hitting surface, so a raised floor lowers the room.
Can you putt on golf simulator turf?
Yes, on putting turf. SIGPRO flooring rolls between 9 and 10 on the stimpmeter with four cups, and SIG calls its landing pads a putting turf that can double as a putting surface. Carl's Place says padding or small changes under the turf can add a light slope for breaking putts.
Is carpet good for a golf simulator?
Thick or plush carpet is not ideal. Carl's Place says it makes soft spots that affect the roll of a putt and the hitting mat's stability, and Fiberbuilt notes a mat on carpet may move slightly with the grain, which light-duty two-way carpet tape under the frame fixes.
How long does golf simulator turf last?
Carl's Place says quality turf can last several years in a home simulator used a few times a week. Vacuum it now and then and brush high pile turf to keep the fibers upright. The hitting strip takes the most wear and can be replaced on its own.
Is there free help planning a golf simulator floor?
Yes. Jay offers a free consultation with GSV's partner master builders, hand-picked by Jay, who get on a call quickly and make sure everything fits. They offer package deals, turf cut to the room, DIY packages, full installation and more. Use the free consultation button on this page.
More from GSV
Build the rest of your sim
- Enclosure and screen$250 off at Shop Indoor GolfShop
- Carl's Place enclosure5% off, code sent by emailShopGet the code
- Projector5% off at Shop Indoor Golf. First-time buyersShop
- Simulator computerSurfThing: $100 off applied automatically, no codeShop
- TouchscreenGSV code for TouchscreenGuruShop
- Complete package$250 off at Shop Indoor GolfShop
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